It sounds like the Kemper will fit your needs well. If you are using it solely for recording, all of the formats of it will do what you need. You will probably want to make sure you get a newer model so you could use SPDIF for recording. The newer ones have a bidirectional SPDIF connection. I wanted to be able to use my Kemper for live gigs so I went with the Kemper Stage. I chose that one because it combined the Kemper with the foot controller. That was less gear to carry around. If you are going to use this as a mobile rig and want the foot controller abilities without carrying an additional piece of gear, that may be the unit for you as well. They all run the same firmware and sound the same so pick the format that works for you use cases.
If you go the reactive load box route, look at the Fryette units. I have a PS-100 and use a Two Notes C.A.B. M+ after it for the cab simulation. I like the way it works with the amps. I chose the unit that I have so I can use it as a power amp to run my Kemper into a guitar cab if I want to. They sell a unit that is a reactive load that has the cab sims in it. I was also looking at the Two Notes torpedo units when I chose the Fryette after doing a lot of research.
One thing to mention is that I see a number of guys that have trouble getting a high gain tone out of the Kemper. On the flip side of that, I have heard some recordings of high gain tones that were produced with the Kemper and they sounded very good. I would expect that you may have to put a little time into getting the tones where you like them. It sounds like you have a very well trained ear so it may not be that big of a deal since you have experience with digital units. I thought it was something to mention because I have seen that complaint a fair amount.
I personally like the Kemper for the raw amp tones. From the units I have tried it sounds and feels like the real amp. I have profiled some of my amps at the settings I play shows with and the profiles sound just like the amps when run at the same volume. I had the amp in the room along with a FRFR speaker on a stand and ran them at the same volume and couldn't tell the difference between them when switching back and forth. I was also able to get good profiles with some of my overdrive pedals in front of the amps. I don't run them at high settings so it worked well for my needs.